Morden postman faces jail for stealing Xmas parcels

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Morden postman faces jail for stealing Xmas parcels found in Sutton flat

http://www.wimbledonguardian.co.uk/news ... s_parcels/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A crooked postman faces prison for stealing Christmas presents from parcels he was delivering for the Royal Mail.

Richard O’Brien, of Gilbrook Close, Morden, stole 100 parcels between November 2009 and December 2010, believed to be worth up to £2,000.

His haul included books, toys, electrical items, top-of- the-range trainers, a computer mouse and several packets from Amazon. The highest value item stolen was an iPod.

The gifts were found at a flat in Cedar Road, Sutton, after a police raid in December last year.

Police caught O’Brien red-handed at the flat along with co-defendant Amina Galaky, after they watched him going into the address carrying packets and coming out with nothing, before driving off.

When police searched the flat they found 88 postal packets containing stolen items, some of which were being delivered from internet suppliers and others sent between family and friends.

O’Brien pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court on Tuesday to theft, and Galaky, who lived at the flat, pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods.

An earlier hearing heard O’Brien, who has a history of depression and attempted suicide, was employed by Royal Mail in January 2009, but did not start delivering large parcels until December 2010.

The court heard, when arrested, he told police he was a drug addict and was stealing the items to pay off a drug debt of £2,500 to Galaky and her partner.

The court heard she told police O’Brien would open the packets and her intention, although not realised, was to sell the items on Ebay and similar websites, before splitting the money.

The pair will return to court on June 13 to be sentenced.

O’Brien contacted the Sutton Guardian after this newspaper reported the original theft, when he claimed theft of parcels in the postal service was rife.

A spokesman for the Royal Mail said: “Royal Mail has a zero tolerance approach to any dishonesty and that stance is shared by the overwhelming majority of postmen and women, who are honest and hardworking and who do all they can to protect the mail and deliver it safely. We will always seek to prosecute the tiny minority of people who abuse their position of trust.”

[DGP1]

O’Brien contacted the Sutton Guardian after this newspaper reported the original theft, when he claimed theft of parcels in the postal service was rife.

As he doesn't know what happens in other offices then he must be referring to his own office......................I'm sure his colleagues are happy about that.

[stokes11eg]

Once again, Depression is used as an excuse for outright theft!

[DGP1]

Once again, Depression is used as an excuse for outright theft!

True, I've suffered from depression and never did stealing go through my head.

[BT2010]

same here, i was theiving for years and no sign of depression whatsoever...

[arnold cheshire]

same here, i was theiving for years and no sign of depression whatsoever...

ib will be on to that comment